There's no way around it: yogurt-covered snacks are imposters.
They're fakers, pretending to be healthy, but they're not quite the real deal. And even when they're not "so bad," (i.e. they're homemade), yogurt-covered snacks foster the wrong habits.
(Please accept my apologies if you're a yogurt-covered-lovin' fan but, read on...)
About three years ago I wrote about … [Read more...]

I've been seeing a lot of posts lately for Healthy Pop-Tarts.
Yes, it sounds like an oxymoron, but there are a bunch of recipes circulating on the internet for healthy Pop-Tarts. And people are getting excited. Very excited.
I don't want to be a killjoy—so please don't blast me— but I've got to say that when I hear about "healthified" junk food, I get nervous. Very … [Read more...]

In my last post I said that you definitely do not have to worry about:
The quality of school snacks and lunches.
Producing the perfect lunchbox.
I heard from a lot of people who do not agree with me. (That's OK. Anything that promotes dialogue is a good thing!) But I think there were some misunderstandings.
First, let me clarify what I'm not saying.
I'm not … [Read more...]

I'm looking forward to Back-to-School time, but here's something I'm not looking forward to: school lunches.
I send my daughter to school every day with lunch.
And, quite frankly, I find this to be one task I don’t relish. Actually, I kind of hate it.
And you know what adds to the stress?
Photos that well-meaning parents post of their kids’ perfect lunchboxes. … [Read more...]

...Consider doling out a donut instead.
Donuts score better in the nutrition department. (Now that’s something I never thought I would say!)
Parents are also more honest about them. We teach our kids that donuts are indulgences, not healthy foods. I wish they would tell their children the same thing about muffins.
This may be one of the most controversial … [Read more...]

Stop sending in so much food.
A few weeks ago I conducted a workshop at a daycare/preschool center in NJ where parents pack their children's food. What did the teachers there have to say?
Parents send in too much food.
Parents send in too much snack food like pretzels and crackers.
Parents wonder why their children aren't eating their vegetables.
Parents think … [Read more...]

Another "healthy" cookie. This time from the Girl Scouts.
Have you heard about Mango Crèmes? According to ABC Bakers, the company who makes these cookies for the Girl Scouts, they are made with Nutrifusion. Whatever that is.
ABC Bakers thinks these cookies are the answer to the fact that:
75-80% of Americans do not eat an adequate amount and variety of fruits … [Read more...]

From the files of It Is Sold as Fruit, But It Will Teach Your Kids to Crave Candy...
I came across these in the grocery store, and I couldn't stop myself from buying them. They're little soft, fruity chews sold in the babyfood aisle.
To me, they seem just like...
Buddy Fruits Pure Fruit Bites don't look like fruit. They don't taste like fruit. They don't smell … [Read more...]